Folding leg fitting



J. J. PARlKOS 2,782,087

FOLDING LEG FITTING Filed March 1'7, 1955 Feb. 19, 1957 0 I I9 w 8 I455 2| 2oF|G.2.

FIG.4.

30' 20 INVENTOR.

, JOHN J.PAR|KOS.

United States Patent This invention relates to tables and more particularly to one with legs that fold up out of the way when ready for storage.

The invention has for an object the provision of a new and improved table with folding legs that avoids one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new I and' improved table with fold-up legs that will include corner fittings for fastening the legs to the table top so they can be held rigidly placed and locked, in the raised and lowered positions.

Other objects reside in the construction, use, and characteristic combination and arrangement of parts, as will be described hereinafter specifically and indicated in the claims.

For a better understanding of the invention, its objects and principles, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein a particular form of the invention is detailed, which in conjunction with the following description serves to complete the illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a view in perspective of a folding leg fitting, mounted on a table showing its parts in dotted outline and partly broken away, embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fitting looking towards the front;

Figure 3 is a similar view looking at the rear of the fitting;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fitting looking towards its side, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the top of the leg with the tongue element mounted on it.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

This invention is understood to be applied normally at the four corners of a rectangular table in this illustration of its use. It consists of a special fitting, preferably of sheet metal or other suitable material that is commercially available at the present time. The material is formed into a rectangular 'box having a flat top wall or crown 11 with a square section 12 of the corner bent downwardly and at right angles to form a wall parallel to a front wall 13 and leave an opening 31 in the crown. These'two walls 12 and 13 clamp the top portion 14 of a leg 15 in between them. The leg 15 is pivoted suitably to these walls by a bolt 16 passing through a hole 35 in them. This pivoting arrangement enables the leg to swing from a horizontal position (see Fig. 1) under the table top 10 to a vertical one for supporting a corner. The table top 10 is attached to fiat top wall or crown 11, by screws passing through the holes 17 arranged for the purpose. The front wall 13 has an angle ledge 13 formed at its lower edge and pointed outwardly. This ledge has a bolt 19 disposed in it for pivoting a catch bar 20 under it. It swings outwardly as required, and when moved inwardly brings its jaw slot 21 near the end 22 as indicated, over a flat T-shape plate 25 and tongue 23 extending from the side 24 of the leg into its path. The leg 15 has to be in a vertical position to do this. The bar then locks the leg in its vertical position. The plate tongue 23 is secured to the leg by screws 30, and is preferably of the form shown in the drawings.

The fitting is open at the side to enable the leg to be swung to a horizontal position, as indicated in Figure l. The opposite side has a vertical wall 26 which afiords a rigid obstruction to keep the leg 15 vertically disposed, when brought to that position and locked by the bar 20. The ledge 27 reinforces the wall 27.. The ledges 18 and 26 support the side walls of the table top 10.

The wall 13 i's drilled to receive a pin 28. This pin is inserted through the wall 13 into a hole 29 in the leg 15 when the leg is raised to a horizontal position and suitably aligned. Reference to the horizontal position indicates the normal position of the table top when standing on its legs in a vertical position. It can be noted that the fitting encompasses the upper portion of the leg on three sides and in doing so offers a substantial hold and support for it. The catch bar 20 is simple, out of the way and engages a tongue plate in an efiective manner. This engagement is at right angles to the longitudinal axes of both and therefore olfers considerable torsional resistance to its displacement. The jaw 21 is flared to enable the closing to be given a wedgelike effect, and thus avoid looseness at the joint. The box-like structure affords rigidity even though the material may be thin. it can be stamped out economically and packed for storage and transportation in a very compact manner.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A corner fitting for attaching a leg to a table top comprising, a box-like structure of quasi-cubical form with walls formed to fit over the top portion of the leg and tightly encompass it, and another wall spaced from the walls and forming the crown of the structure and arranged for attachment to the underside of said table, a plate tongue for mounting on said top portion, and a catch bar pivoted on said structure including a jaw adapted to align and engage with said tongue when the leg is in a vertical position for supporting said table top.

2. A corner fitting for attaching a leg to a table top comprising, a "box-like structure of quasi-cubical form with walls formed to fit over the top portion of the leg and tightly encompass it, and another wall spaced from the walls and forming the crown of the structure and arranged for attachment to the underside of said table, a plate tongue for mounting on said top portion, a catch bar pivoted on said structure including a jaw adapted to align and engage with said tongue when the leg is in a vertical position for supporting said table top, and bringing the leg forcibly locked against the walls of said structure.

3. A corner fitting for attaching a leg to a table top comprising, a box-like structure of quasi-cubical form with walls formed to fit over the top portion of the leg and tightly encompass it, and another wall spaced from the walls and forming the crown of the structure and arranged for attachment to the underside of said table, a plate tongue for mounting on said top portion, a catch bar pivoted on said structure including a jaw adapted to align and engage with said tongue when the leg is in a vertical position for supporting said table top, bringing the leg forcibly locked against the walls of said structure, and a pivot means mounted on the structure passing through a predetermined locus of the leg on which the leg can swing from a horizontal and closed position inthe structure to a vertical position for supporting the table, and aligning the tongue and bar for locking as aforesaid.

4. A corner fitting for attaching a leg to a table top comprising, a box-like structure of quasi-cubical form with walls formed to fit over the top portion of the leg and tightly encompass it, and another wall spaced from the walls and forming the crown of the structure and arranged for attachmentto the underside of said table, a plate tongue for mounting on said top portion, a catch bar pivoted on said structure including a jaw adapted to align and engage with said tongue when the leg is in a vertical position for supporting said table top, bringing the leg forcibly locked against the walls of said structure, a pivot means mounted on the structure passing through a predetermined locus of the legon which the leg can swing from a horizontal and closed position in the structure to a vertical position for supporting the table, and aligning the tongue and bar for locking as aforesaid, and ledges formed on the walls selectively for reinforcing them and provide a surface on which to operate the said bar.

5. A corner fitting for attaching a leg to a table top comprising, a box-like structure of quasi-cubical form with walls formed to fit over the top portion of the leg and tightly encompass it, and another wall spaced from the walls and forming the crown of the structure and arranged for attachment to the underside of said table, a plate tongue for mounting on said top portion, a catch bar pivoted on said structure including a jaw adapted to align and engage with said tongue when the leg is in a vertical position for supporting said table top, bringing the leg forcibly locked against the Walls of said structure, a pivot means mounted on the structure passing through a predetermined locus of the leg on which the leg can swing from a horizontal and closed position in the struc ture to a vertical position for supporting the table, and aligning the tongue and bar for locking as aforesaid, ledges formed on the walls selectively for reinforcing them and provide a surface on which to operate the said bar, and means for holding the leg to the structure in its horizontal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,871,634 Tingle Aug. 16, 1932 1,879,945 OConnor Sept. 27, 1932 1,924,460 Schafier Aug. 29, 1933 2,204,081 Harrell June 11, 1940 2,479,492 Hayden Aug. 16, 1949 2,653,066 Anderson Sept. 22, 1953 2,707,140 Hagwell Apr. 26, 1955 

